Page 79 of Emerald

I have no reason to believe it.

It defies all sense and reason.

But I know he will.

“He’ll come,” I tell Remizov.

“I hope, for your sake, that he does,” Remizov says.

There’s a knock on the door.

The linebacker pokes his head inside.

His face is all politeness when he addresses Remizov—no trace of his hateful smirk.

“He’s here,” he says.

* * *

22

Ivan

Idon’t take any weapons, not even a knife.

It’s pointless, when I know Remizov will have me searched before I get within fifty feet of him.

I do take a flash drive. It’s not Remizov’s flash drive, of course—that one is still in Moscow. But it looks very similar. Close enough to fool him for a minute, I hope. I slip it into my pocket.

As I’m getting ready to go, my brother knocks on my door.

He knows I was supposed to pick up Sloane at the train station. He saw me arrive back home without her.

Seeing my clothes and the expression on my face, he guesses at once what I’m about to do.

“You can’t be serious,” Dom says.

“I’m going, and I’m going alone,” I tell him.

“Ivan. This is madness.”

“It’s pointless to talk about it. My mind is made up.”

I’m lacing my shoes, avoiding looking at my brother. But I can see him standing in the doorway, his face looking pale next to his blond hair, his arms folded across his chest.

“Is this because of Karol?” he asks.

I look sharply up at him.

“No,”I say. “It’s not because of Karol. I can’t let Remizov hurt Sloane.”

“But heisgoing to hurt her,” Dom says, his lips white with anger and fear. “He’s going to kill her and you as well. This isn’t a rescue mission, it’s suicide. At the very least, I’m coming with you, and the rest of the—“

“No!” I cut across him. “As soon as we drive up, he’ll kill her. He told me to come by myself.”

“I’m not going to let you do that,” Dom says.

He’s definitely blocking the doorway. He’s standing with his legs apart, determined not to let me pass.

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